Item Description
Original Item: Only One Available. The M1 helmet is a combat helmet that was used by the United States military from World War II until 1985, when it was succeeded by the PASGT helmet. For over forty years, the M1 was standard issue for the U.S. military. The M1 helmet has become an icon of the American military, with its design inspiring other militaries around the world.
Vietnam War era M-1 helmet shells have a set of swivel (movable) chinstrap loops called bales and a manganese steel rim. These rims had non-magnetic qualities that reduced the chance of error readings when placed around certain sensitive equipment (such as a compass). In WWII the shells had Stainless Steel rims, however these would easily lose paint, and the shine the produced without paint was a liability.
This helmet is a fine example and still retains most of its original Vietnam War parts, and the shell has the original dark OD Green finish. It is fitted with a very nice USMC reversible camouflage cover, held in place by the rubber cut from an innertube that retains the cover, very popular with US Marines during the War.
The helmet's heat lot code of I-4663 is visible inside the shell, which indicates manufacture by Ingersoll Rand Products, who produced a total of 3,174,296 helmet shells between 1965-1968 during the Vietnam Period. The helmet still has the original OD Green chin strap, with the correct modified buckle implemented during the Korean war and used until M1 helmet production stopped.
The included reversible camouflage cover is in very good, unissued condition, complete with the securing band. There is wear through around the edges, and overall fading present from years of storage and display.
One of the tabs on the bottom of the cover is marked:
COVER, HELMET
CAMOUFLAGE
DPSC, DIR. OF MFG.
CONTRACT NO. 5432
FSN-8415-261-6833
The contract number 5432 puts the manufacturer date to late 1964 to early 1965. The liner is an “Infantry P55” liner, another item that was highly used by US Marines due to the extensive surplus of them. Produced between 1955 and 1963, the P55 M1 Helmet Liner was the first version not to have a front insignia eyelet.1 Made from laminated cotton duck, the liner featured: suspension webbing that could be adjusted to hold the liner at the right height on the wearer's head, neck strap and adjustable neck band that was designed to prevent the helmet from pitching forward, leather lined headband that could be adjusted to the wearer's head size and leather chin strap. Strangely enough the liner appears to have had all paint stripped or was just never painted.
A lovely helmet from the Vietnam War era that comes more than ready for display.
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